The best of Mercado da Vila in Cascais

Gooseneck barnacles, clams, oysters, whelks, slipper lobsters, prawns, scarlet shrimp, crab, baby clams, and, as any proper seafood spot should offer, "prego" sandwiches. This restaurant, tucked into the fishmonger’s section of Cascais market, feels almost like a shopping trip: first, you choose your seafood, the quantity, and how you’d like it prepared. Then, decide whether to enjoy it right there or take it home.

In mid-October 2023, Diogo Vaz’s premium chocolates made their return to Portugal with the opening of a small shop in Cascais Village Market. From chocolate bars and bonbons to macarons and other specialties, there are plenty of options to sample at this, the brand’s second location in the country.

Healthy, beautifully presented food made with fresh seasonal ingredients and responsibly sourced local products, catering to a variety of dietary needs. This is what you’ll find at Local – Your Healthy Kitchen. The menu includes plenty of vegetarian options, such as organic tofu and vegetable red Thai curry or a black bean burger with quinoa and guacamole, alongside dishes with animal protein - varieties of fish, shrimp, octopus, and free-range poultry. You’ll also find 12 different poké bowls and a DIY option with countless combinations to choose from. To finish, there are refined sugar-free desserts and artisanal ice creams.

After opening a cheese shop in Campo de Ourique in 2017, French couple Ulysse Jasinsky and Léonie Benoist decided to expand their business to Cascais. Passionate about cheese and traditional production methods, they now offer dozens (and dozens) of options at their charming shop in Cascais Village Market. You won’t find any supermarket products here; Maitrê Renard takes pride in selling cheeses (and other specialties) from small producers, mainly French.

These products might be pricier, but they’re also healthier, more sustainable, and, as they assure, absolutely delicious. In addition to cheeses, they offer natural wines, spices, mustards, jams, jellies, vinegars, olives, foie gras, and a selection of Italian products like pasta and risotto rice. Winter is the best time to visit when the shop is filled with cheeses - no risk of melting - because, as they say, “no French table at Christmas is complete without a big cheese at the centre”.

If you’re looking for a restaurant to embrace the tapas trend, look no further. In the middle sibling of the restaurants that have won over the locals (the oldest is in Torre, the newest at Guincho), a flurry of waiters moves between the indoor dining area and the terraces - one facing the inside of the market, the other outwards - carrying platters filled with potato skins, Padrón peppers, eggs with asparagus, alheira croquettes, prego sandwiches, or steaks. It doesn’t get more Portuguese than this. And it’s hard to find better prices.

It’s a bicycle that serves speciality coffee. This is the project of Aryelle Bastos, a Brazilian who, after several trips around Europe, fell in love with the concept and combined it with her dream of one day owning a café. She serves a variety of coffees and related drinks, along with homemade vegan, sugar-free pastries.

In 2022, this project, where Delta coffee grounds are used to cultivate Pleurotus and Shiitake mushrooms - thus contributing to a more sustainable ecosystem and reducing waste - arrived at Cascais Village Market. It is at this "urban farm" that you can purchase high-quality mushrooms, with Nãm products also available for purchase online.

Located in the heart of Cascais Village Market, this space aims to preserve the gastronomic heritage of the municipality of Cascais. The idea came about after the publication of the book *Receitas de Reis e Pescadores* (2017), written by Raquel Moreira and Cláudia Silva Mataloto, and since late 2021, it has hosted numerous activities related to local cuisine and beyond. There are events for children and young people, workshops with chefs, wine pairings with Carcavelos wine, and more technical events, such as training on how to license your kitchen and courses on food photography.

Open to everyone, of all ages, whether locals, Portuguese, or visitors from around the world, the Food Lab would be delighted to welcome you. Check the schedule to see if any of the events catch your interest, or send an email for something more tailored to your needs.

It's the new Mexican restaurant at the Mercado da Vila. Azteca focuses on some classics like tacos, quesadillas, or alambres, along with various appetizers, but also on some fusion dishes that include Portuguese ingredients or others from different origins.

The famous roast suckling pig from Negrais has long been served at Mercado da Vila, but since 2014, it has had its own dedicated space. HM Caneira is a company founded in the 1980s to formalise a family tradition that had been around for at least 50 years by that time. Despite all the changes of the modern world, they continue to serve what they do best: roast suckling pig, delivered fresh daily from their factory. They also offer other products made with the same meat, such as croquettes and roast pig sandwiches, and you can find a selection of national products, from olive oil to tea, and even ginja liqueur.

The concept is very simple: beers from around the world. For the past decade, this has been the case at Beer Cascais, where you can currently find around 90 different beers from various countries and continents, available both bottled and, in some cases, on tap. German and Belgian beers are among the most popular, but there are various specialties, ranging from more or less bitter, light and heavy, to both craft and industrial options. When in doubt, just try them.

Discovering wines. And drinking them, of course. These are the main ideas behind the Castas da Vida project, which focuses on independent producers. By joining the club, you can have wine delivered directly to your door.

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Since 2016, Cascais Village Market has been home to a traditional sushi restaurant where you can also try various fusion options. In addition to sushi platters and individual pieces, they serve ramen, chicken satay, pad thai, and other Asian specialties.

It’s the perfect place for anyone looking to stock up on nuts. Everything you can imagine can be found at Lugar dos Frutos Secos, a traditional shop that sells bulk items and includes specialties (and countless derivatives) that aren’t available everywhere. Since 1952, it has been selling its products at Mercado da Vila.